Sylvie Barton

Review of Yahweh Yoga

When I arrived at Yahweh Yoga I had absolutely no ...

When I arrived at Yahweh Yoga I had absolutely no prior experience of any form of yoga, except knowledge from superstars or self-help authors who claim to do this form of exercise, and it changed their lives. Furthermore, my therapist recommended Bikram Yoga for the stress I was currently partaking in as a newlywed; however, someone else gratefully told me that if I had never practiced yoga in my life, it would be best to start "small." (She specifically said if you decide to become a runner, you wouldn't start with a marathon (Bikram Yoga), but a 5K (Yahweh Yoga). This person recommended Yahweh Yoga. I am so glad I listened! My first class was on a Saturday morning with DeAnna Smothers and the best words out of her mouth for a yoga virgin was, "Remember there is no competition in yoga. Be kind to your body and let it direct you to either do a little or a lot." I needed to hear that because I am normally a very competitive person and I wanted this new practice to last a lifetime. The other life-changing words out of her mouth were, "And breathe. Remember, when you stop breathing you stop practicing yoga." I have a tendency to hold my breath and that's been a problem all my life, but the practice of yoga taught me how to breathe deeply in order to remove the toxins and stress I was holding in. For the first year I practiced yoga on Wednesdays and Saturdays. I started in February 2012 and finally mastered breathing in about June 2012. I knew I had got the breathing right because tears were seeping from my eyes and the poses got much easier. I added Mondays into my schedule. Have you ever heard of the 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman? I get three out of the five for myself by going to Yahweh Yoga: (1) Words of Affirmation (my #1) spoken by the instructor (DeAnna, Lindsay, or Stephanie); (2) Quality Time (with myself and God); (3) Physical Touch (my favorites are giving myself a face massage and scratching my head). Another amazing thing about this studio is that the practice is mostly done in a dim room with a wide variety of women who are all shapes and sizes and colors. We are all in there for the same thing: Taking care of our temples. Have you been hurt by religion but really miss going to church for the music and time with God? I highly recommend trying out Yahweh Yoga! I can't tell you how many times a song hit so close to home and was exactly what I needed to hear, or a devotional that spoke to my heart and helped me reach my fullest potential. Finally, it was stated that the practice of yoga would automatically change my diet where I would crave healthier foods. I felt they went too far with saying that because I have given up A LOT in my life (prescription drugs, alcohol, smoking, etc.) and I love food and I wasn't interested in anything messing with that guilty pleasure. I've been practicing yoga for a year and I've also purchased DVD's from the studio so that I can enjoy DeAnna Smothers and Courtney Chalfant in the comforts of my own home. Without even wanting to my diet is changing... My life has become full with blessings that I don't always have the time to get that power nap in and I know my diet is what makes me sleepy. So, I've gone gluten-free and am changing to eating for my blood type. My O+ diet mainly consists of protein. I still enjoy naps, but I don't require them anymore! Finally, I can honestly say that the practice of yoga was the missing link to my mental health which has changed me in all other areas. Please give it a try and don't leave before the miracle happens! I promise you it will and the key is moderation. I need to close so that I can "Stretch, Relax and Restore" via DVD, and Courtney, I am feeling like a queen today.